 Ranger Bill, warrior of the woodland, struggling against extreme odds, travelling dangerous trails, fighting the many enemies of nature. This is the job of the guardian of the forest, Ranger Bill, pouring rain, freezing cold, blistering heat, snow, floods, bears, rattlesnakes, mountain lions. Yes, all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done. You know, when I think of the story for today, I have to chuckle some because of the consternation that was caused at Blue Lake early this year, or I should say early this summer. It was just as the tourist season was getting into full swing. Now, Blue Lake is located high up in the mountain country and it's real cool and comfortable up there when everywhere else people are sweltering. Well, you've no doubt heard tell of yarns about monsters being in lakes and oceans. And I wonder if the folks at Blue Lake didn't begin to think that this was true after several peculiar happenings took place. Let's call this story the Clown of Blue Lake. During the day, motor boats fly the lake for pleasure riding and towing water skiers. But in the early morning and late evening hours, the fishermen take over and try to land the big ones. Let's join a couple of the boys as they roll quietly along the lake to their fishing spot. Well, Gus, this is the time of year I've looked forward to each month since last summer. Yeah, sure is, Amos. Good to leave those hot city offices and come here to God's country and live. Just think, three whole weeks of this wonderful place. Buy any new lures this year? Huh? Oh, no. Hard enough carrying all the gear and gadgets I've got now. The strength of your bag besides the limit of the size of your bag. Sure does, Amos. Of course, my wife has something to say about that, too. I know what you mean. Say, we're almost at our spot. Right. It's a perfect night for drifting and we'll drop anchor as soon as we begin to get strikes. I hope we can get some big ones like we did last year. I got a strike. Oh, plain easy. We're doing great tonight. There he is. Look at the size of him. That's a fine catch. Here's the net. Okay, pull up that stringer right away. Man, but you've caught a beauty. Hey, something's robbed our stringer. It has. Hey, let's see that. Look at this one. I'll say somebody's robbed our stringer and we had a prize catch, too. Let's head back to the lodge with this one. So at least we'll have one fish to show for an evening's work. So a lot of the men are having trouble with having their stringers robbed, eh, Pop? They sure are, Amos. There's been a lot of complaints and some of the men are getting a mighty hot tempered about it. Well, can't this culprit be caught? Maybe it could. We knew what it was. Pop, you've been around Blue Lake a long time. What do you think this thing is, huh? Well, I don't really know, Gus. I don't really know. It could be a large water snake, or maybe a gnat, or it might be a large pike. Then again, it might not be any one of them there critters. You sound pretty mysterious about this whole thing, Pop. Well, maybe them old tales about monsters and lakes seem so far-fetched after all. A beautiful 300-yard drive, Rick. Straight as an arrow. Thanks, Hank. It's about time I got one. Now I'll see what I can do to get across the creek and not in it. Oh, I knew that was a bum one. I felt the club turning my hand. That isn't too far in the rough. I'll help you look for it. Thanks. Let's go. Is this where your ball went into the rough? Yeah, this looks good. Let's use an iron to poke around in the underbrush. Yeah, I know what you mean. I don't want some rattler to latch onto my hand to get too close to my legs. Right. I'll start through here. I'll stay abreast of you. Ball shouldn't be too hard to find. I hope not. I'd hate to lose that two-dollar ball. Oh, there it is. Where? Under that scrub pine. Way under. I'll have to stretch, so I'll poke. Yeah! What's the matter? Say, where's your club? That's what's the matter with me. Something grabbed my iron right out of my hand. Is that why you yelled? Sure, wouldn't you? I guess I'd have been running long before you did. Was it powerful? I'll say it was. Boy, what a scare it gave me. I can imagine. What do we do now? I'm going back to the lodge and get Ben Stout down here with a rifle and find out what's in that scrub growth over there. Okay. I'd better stay here and warn the rest of the golfers to stay out of that. You boys stay behind me, because if I have to shoot fast, I don't want one of you in the way. Don't worry, Ben. I don't want a 30-30 through my head. I might not live to tell about it, and I've got enough holes in my head already. You're in a better mood now, aren't you, Hank, now that you're over your first fright? Yeah. But I'd sure like to know what's in there. Besides, it's my club and ball, and I want them back. Let's go, Ben. You said it. Now, now, don't crowd me. I don't want anybody getting hurt. A little to the right, Ben. Okay. Just keep directing me. Right straight ahead of that scrub pine about 50 feet in front of you. All right. Now, you fellas, give me room. I'm a good shot, but I'm not a sharpshooter. Give me room and don't crowd in. And we better take it slow. I see the club and ball. You do? Good. Now, you fellas, keep a sharp eye while I poke around here a bit. Be careful it doesn't grab your rifle. If it does, it'll let go quick enough, all right? I'll give it a 30-30 right in the teeth. And give me room now. Don't crowd me here. Well, guess whatever it was, isn't here now. It's safe to pick up your club and ball, Hank. Well, at last. It took a long time, but it was worth it. Wow, look at this club. What's the matter with it? What's the matter with it? Take a look at the iron. The iron's bent. Well, I've never seen anything like this. In the 20 years, I've owned high-rigelodge. Well, even a bear trap couldn't do that to a clubhead. But now I know why you yelled so loud. You had a good reason. Whatever snatched that out of your hand sure had power. Had power? You mean has power because we don't know what it is yet. June, you're how many times do I have to tell you not to lean over the edge of the pier like that? I'm watching the fish, Mother. I thought you were trying to catch fish, not watch them. I'll be careful. Do you hear? Yes, I hear. I don't know what comes over children these days. They just don't seem to hear worth a hoot. Mother! June! Are you all right? Sure, Mom. I'm okay. I didn't fall in. I was pulled. Pulled? Young man, I should whip you for lying, but I'm too happy to have you safe to punish you now. I'm not lying, Mother Honest. Well, we'll talk about that later. May I put into this family squabble? I'm sorry. I almost forgot to thank you for saving my son. Thank you very much for your help. That's quite all right, ma'am. I don't think the boy's lying about being pulled into the water. You think he was actually pulled into the water? Yes, ma'am, I do. Well, did you see it happen? Well, if you look at the end of his fishing line, you'll notice it has been bitten and torn off. Well, Lancet, you're right. The hook and the bait is gone. What could have done it? I don't know, but that'd been awful strong because it's a very heavy line. More like a kind used deep-sea fishing. It is. My grandpa gave it to me. He used to be a deep-sea fisher. That's what I thought. I wouldn't let the boy near the water until this monster is caught or destroyed. Do you mean that it's dangerous to swim in Blue Lake? Oh, I wouldn't say that, ma'am, but I wouldn't want to take the chance. What can we do about it? I'd report this to the Rangers if I were you, ma'am, right away. Well, we certainly shall. And if they won't do anything about it, well, then we'll pack up and leave for another resort where it's safe for children to be near the water. You want to see me, Pop? Yep, I sure do, Benjamin. You'd better put your thinking cap on and do something quick about this monster. Well, maybe we should say about the environment in the lake that's causing all this ruckus. The folks are beginning to talk, huh? They ain't only talking, but they're setting their minds to action. Oh, what kind of action? Well, they're going to pack up and move right suddenly unless you do something about this. I was afraid of that. What do you think I should do? I'd call in the Rangers to quickly make your head swim. But then again, I thought they might think I was crazy. Well, you take a tip from me and call Bill Jefferson. He ain't never laughed at anybody calling for help yet. And fine old Bill, he ain't about to start now. Here, headquarters. I'm Fitzafiddle. How's yourself? Oh, big or little? Big. Well, sure, Ben. We'd be glad to. Well, that's fine. Is Bill there? No, but he'll be here in sign hour and we'll come out to see you. Thanks, old timer. That's the whole story up to date, Bill. Well, this is turning into a first-class mystery, Ben. You said it. And it's going to be an expensive one too for me if these folks start leaving because they're afraid of the lake and what's in it. Yeah, you're right, young fella. It could be bad for you. All right. What are we going to do about it, Bill? Well, the first thing I'd like to do is carefully go over what's happened and see if we can gather some common facts. That sounds like a good idea. You mind if I noise it around that you fellas are hot on the job? No, of course not, Ben. Go right ahead. Perhaps it'll stem the panic and your paying guests will stay until this is over. And then they can enjoy their vacation. Well, thanks. I'll spread the word around right away. Okay, and we'll get busy talking to the folks involved in this and take a look around. Let's go, old timer. Here's the spot. It was right about here where we noticed the fish were gone from the stringer. How do you know? Did you mark an X on the side of the boat? I didn't think the old timer could let that one go by. It's all right, stuffy. The thing is, I marked a location by landmarks on the opposite shores. That's how I know we're close to the general area. Well, I don't see any footprints in the water to tell us what kind of a vomit it was. It swiped the fish. You see, he's hopeless when he gets like this. No cure for it, you know. So I understand. Too bad he's such a nice fellow, too. No, see here, you young whippersnappers. I never did see the tension coming out here in the boat anyhow. What's it gonna tell ya? He's got a point there, all right. Don't you think, Amos? Sure has, Gus. I thought it might help to return to the scene of the crime and reenact the whole thing. Well, unless I'm sadly mistaken, this is about the same general area the rest of the fishermen complained of about losing their catch off the stringer. Hey, now, that rings a bell, sonny. I think you're right. Maybe you've got something there. I don't know yet, Amos, but I'm sure gonna make a long, mental note of it. Let's go back to the pier. Bill, stumpy, the thing might still be in here. Oh, don't you fret none about that, sonny. Oh, Betsy, here. I'll tell you in short order. Yeah, the old timer's a dead shot. Where's the scrub pine under which you found your iron club in the ball, Hank? Right ahead, Bill. I guess there isn't much to see. One can never tell. Let's look around, stumpy. Yeah, that's what I was figuring on doing. See anything yet? Oh, a few things. Look here, Bill. Goin' that way toward the creek. The creek runs into the lake, and the golf course is between the place where the fellas usually fish and the swimming pier where the boy was pulled into the water. We're gettin' a pattern, young fella. Yeah, and how? What's the good word, fellas? Is it a dinosaur? Nope. Nor a walrus, neither. He's just the clown of Blue Lake. We've got some ideas about the troublemaker, but we'd like to check out a few more details before we commit ourselves. Let's go back to the lodge. Rangers? We sure are, Junior. Genuine and real. Boy, wait till I tell a gang back home that I talk to real forest rangers. Junior, don't be taking up these gentlemen's time with so much foolish talk. There's a lot of important things to do. Not right now, we haven't, ma'am. Your son is very important to us. Boy, oh, boy. Did you hear that, mother? Yes, I heard the ranger. Now, suppose you tell us how you got pulled into the drink. Mommy in the lake. Well, I was sitting here with my pole fishin', and all of a sudden there was a big yank on the line, and I was in the lake. Have you got the pole in line here? Sure. I saved it special when I heard you was comin'. This is it. The line's been cut all right. Junior, did you notice anything special in the water just before you were pulled off the pier? No, sir. Nothing. Well, thanks very much for your help, son. Goodbye, ma'am. Goodbye, and I certainly hope you catch whatever you're looking for so that the lake will be safe again. So do we hope we can catch it. Thanks again. Goodbye. Are you thinkin' what I am thinkin', sonny? I guess I am, Mr. Ampey. The culprit can be only one thing. Let's go back to the lodge and talk with Ben about it. It's awful nice of you to come and tell the folks what you found out, Bill. It'll help me, too. Well, I'm glad to do it. Perhaps we better get started, huh? Yes, of course. Now, please, now, quiet down, folks. I'm sure most of you know our chief forest ranger, Bill Jefferson, by sight, if not personally. He'd like to talk to you for a while. Bill? Thank you, Ben. Folks, Stumpy and I have carefully gone over this scary mystery, Plaguing Blue Lake, and we've come up with the fact that the culprit involved is a turtle. What kind of turtle, and how big? A snapping turtle, Hank, and he's a whopper. Maybe two or two and a half feet across. How about that? Sounds logical, and by the dent in my five iron, I'd say you hit the nail on the head. Could a snapping turtle be that powerful? Yes, he could. This one's a big fellow. Old is the hills, and he's got a pair of jaws that could take a man's hand off without any trouble. I know you're right, Bill, but what are you going to do about it? That's the same question that I had in mind. Turtle is dangerous, almost like having an alligator around. Stumpy and I are going to trap the old boy and pack him out of here, lock, stock, and barrel. Now that you know what the danger is, I'm sure you'll all rest easier. We'll have the rascal in short order because we know pretty well where he goes and comes. Bill, why not shoot this turtle and be done with him? He's dangerous anyhow. Our job is to help all forest life above water and under the water. You know, the Lord created all living things and put them here for a purpose. We may have to kill the turtle, but only as a last resort. But I feel quite sure that we can capture him all right and move him to some uninhabited area where he can live out his natural life. That'll be fine, Bill. I don't care what you do just as long as you get results. Bill, get results all right, Ben. You folks just bind your time another day or two and we'll have old moss back on his way. We do better carrying a big soup kettle out here and putting the old moss back right into it to grab him by the tail and kaplunk. I'll admit that he's wearing my patience pretty thin, too, old friend, but we've got to try our best to give him a break. Three times now in a day and a half he's giving us a slip. I'm getting tired of it. He's a sly old rascal, all right. We'll get him yet. That's what they all say, but they never have patience, old friend. Patience. Never had to wait this long for a bowl of soup in my life. I see him. I've got the net already. I'll let the canoe glide over to him and I'll slip the net right under him. So when he dives, he'll go into the net. Okay, look at the size of him, would you? Like a big rock. Make a sound. I don't know, old timer. Perhaps he's got Bill in radar. Yeah, he must have. Probably read one of them there, do it yourself, books. You might be right, you know. Well, let's go back to the pier and take a break, huh? Perhaps we can think of some more foolproof way to snar him next time. I'm sorry you fellas had such a bad time of it, but that old fox must know all the tricks of the trade on how to live to be 500 years old. I'll say he knows them. I guess the only thing left to do is shoot the poor fella. Well, not really. Yeah. Can't afford a monkey around with him any longer. First thing we know, he'll bite off some child's fingers or hand. Get old Betsy, Stumpy, and we'll push off in the canoe. Well, yep. That's about the only answer I guess. Try all the baits and traps we know exist for this sort of thing. You know, I kind of feel sorry he has to go this way. There's something fine and majestic about a turtle his age. I don't mean to go poetic, but I sort of got an attached to him. Although I wouldn't want to try to pat his head. I understand, Ben. We feel the same way. Yep. I'll bet she out of the car and be back in a minute or two. Say, have you noticed it's both drifting Amos? Yeah, I thought we were changing position. Look, the anchor rope's loose. We must have lost it. Lost it and nothing. Look what's hanging on the end, that crazy old turtle. Never mind the turtle. We'd better get this motor going. We're drifting faster. We could go over the dam, maybe. Oh, don't worry. We should be broad on O, or at least I get the pleasure of trying to give that turtle a bang on the head. Oh, come on. No, I do wish we'd brought our oars. Oh, maybe I'd better yell. Hey, there's Bill Jefferson on the shore. Hey, Bill! Ben! We need some help! Look over there, close to the dam. Great Scott, those men can't get their motor going. And they're being sucked right toward the gate. Hey, we'll run along the shore to the gate. There isn't time for anything else. We'll try to pull them out of the boat before it goes through the gate. Come on! There's a small catwalk over the top of the sluice gate. We'll lay on that, and we'll have to be able to grab them as they go by in the boat and swing them up to safety. Help, Joe! Ain't gonna have much time to do when you're planning. Right. Give it all you've got. We'll make it just in the nick of time. We'll keep trying, Amos. Maybe it'll start yet. Ah! Get ready to lock arms, fellows! Oh, forget the motor, Amos. We're getting closer to the dam. Ready to jump! Don't miss! Here we go! Strong enough to buck the turrets! Stumpy, I want to thank you for getting rid of old Mossback. We didn't get rid of him, Ben. He got rid of himself. Oh, now you know that ain't so. You fellows were breathing down the back of his neck all the time. I sure were, young fella. The clown of Blue Lake out-clowned himself. Now he's taken a fast trip down the river and he won't be back for a long... Well, how'd you like that for a change? We don't often battle turtles, much less run them out of town. But that's the way things go sometimes. However, I'm glad we didn't have to shoot the old veteran of Blue Lake just because he was getting ornery and full of tricks. Well, see you next week for more adventure with... This is Stumpy Jenkins. A Ranger builds old sidekick, as I guess you all know. Just adding a little extra word of thanks for getting yourself in on the program today. Always glad to have you along. And I hope you invite your friends, too, for we sure got lots of adventures to tell you about. And we don't want you to miss any of them. So you make sure to be there by your radio every week. Don't lose out on our next story.